The Armies of Ptolemaic Egypt

Summary

This book examines the military forces of Ptolemaic Egypt from the death of Alexander the Great to the Roman conquest. Stéphane Thion analyzes three key components of the Ptolemaic army: cleruchs (soldier-settlers granted land), mercenaries (hired foreign troops), and machimoi (native Egyptian warriors). The study explores how these diverse military groups were organized, recruited, and integrated into the Ptolemaic state structure, providing insight into the military and social dynamics that sustained Greek rule in Egypt for nearly three centuries.